Friday November 28, 2025 | VICTORIA, BC [Posted at 12:12 pm PT | Updated 4:04 pm & 5:13 pm PT | Updated December 1 & 4, 2025]
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
Dairy milk testers (aka diary production technicians or DPTs) are on strike in BC effective today.
As members of the BC General Employees Union (BCGEU), the testers who are employed in BC by nationwide dairy testing provider Lactanet gave 72-hour strike notice on November 25.
According to BCGEU in a news release today: “The job action follows 20 months of bargaining and the employer’s refusal to fairly compensate workers for the cost of doing their jobs.”
“These workers are demanding that Lactanet reconsider how it’s using the fees it charges farmers for testing and cover the actual current-day costs of travelling to farms to gather samples,” said BCGEU treasurer Maria Middlemiss. “After 26 months without a contract, these workers can no longer afford to continue in this way.”
Farmers will not — during the strike — receive reports as to the taste quality and safety of the milk produced on their farms.
There are nine BCGEU dairy testing workers on strike who have not had a contract since September 2023.
Travel expense:
The specific sticking point seems to be the cost of travel to and from farms. They are currently paid 41 cents per km, while pointing out that the Canada Revenue Agency uses 72 cents per km for work travel using personal vehicles including trucks and SUVs.
The travel distance is sometimes up to 100 km away from a worker’s home base.
Costs include fuel, business-type vehicle insurance, tires, maintenance, depreciation and repairs.
“This work stoppage was a tough decision for us because we’re passionate about the dairy industry and we’re dedicated to the farmers,” said Jack van Dongen, milk tester, former dairy farmer and chair of the workers’ bargaining committee.
“Many of us milk testers work second jobs to make ends meet. We’re not trying to get rich doing this job, but it’s not reasonable or sustainable for us to pay out-of-pocket for travel expenses, especially since that’s not the industry norm,” said van Dongen in a BCGEU news release.
Island Social Trends has asked Lactanet if they provide work vehicles (no comment yet available on that).
What DPTs do:
DPTs collect samples of dairy milk produced by about 175 herds across the province, for testing at the Lactanet Pacific Milk Analysis Lab in Chilliwack.
“Our services are related to dairy herd management and are NOT connected to the quality of milk regulated and monitored by the BC Milk Marketing Board,” said Lactanet in a statement to Island Social Trends today.
BC Dairy comment:
“All milk produced on farms in BC is inspected and sampled before it leaves the farm to ensure quality and safety,” said BC Dairy in a statement to Island Social Trends on December 1.
“The ongoing job action at Lactanet does not affect the mandatory testing requirements that all farms in BC must meet,” says BC Dairy.
Lactanet comment:
“The union action will have NO impact on the quality or safety of milk for retail, restaurants, hospitals or any other consumer of dairy products in BC or wherever BC dairy products may be consumed,” says Lactanet Chief Executive Officer Neil Petreny.
Lactanet says that their herd management services are not mandatory. “But we feel that we provide important tools for BC dairy farmers as they strive to efficiently produce milk for BC consumers,” said Petreny.
“Though we have a few remaining issues to address in our discussions (with the striking workers), we remain committed to resolving these quickly and resuming services for BC dairy farmers as soon as possible,” says Petreny.
Agriculture Ministry statement:
The BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food has provided this statement to Island Social Trends today:
• The Ministry of Agriculture and Food is aware of the labour disruption between the B.C. General Employees Union and Lactanet, the private organization that conducts the milk quality testing, and encourages both parties to work towards an agreement.
• While the dispute may impact the information some participating milk producers receive about the quality of their herd’s milk, it does not pose a risk to the safety of B.C.’s milk supply, nor do we believe it will affect the availability of dairy products in B.C.
• British Columbian families can continue to enjoy B.C. milk products with confidence. The Ministry of Agriculture will continue to inspect milk at each B.C. farm, as provincial legislation requires, to ensure it is safe for human consumption, and that will continue without interruption.
• While we will continue to monitor the situation, out of respect to and for the employees and the company, the Ministry will not have further comment on the negotiations.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food is Lana Popham.
About Lactanet:
Lactanet is a farmer-run organization serving Canadian dairy producers from coast-to-coast.
Their mission is to be the leading provider of services, knowledge and progressive herd management solutions for Canadian dairy farmers and industry partners and a driving force for a sustainable and prosperous Canadian dairy industry.
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